McCarthy Out

I did not like the choice of McCarthy as speaker.  He has been in DC too long.  He is part of the swamp.  Republican voters are not in favor of more money for Ukraine.  As part of a continuing resolution, McCarthy agreed to send more money to Ukraine.  And why are we doing a continuing resolution?  What happened to the idea of drafting a budget and passing it?  We've had months to write a budget.  No, we're just going to spend willy nilly?  Sigh.  When looking at how thin was McCarthy's election to the job, he should have been more wary.  McCarthy bargained with the Democrats to get them what they wanted and they repaid him by joining a tiny cadre of Republicans to kick him out of the speakership.

Much as McCarthy may have deserved this fate, does it advance the goals of the Freedom Caucus?  Many say no.  All those Republicans who voted to keep McCarthy are unlikely to rubber stamp whoever the Freedom Caucus want in the job.  With aisles crossed to kick McCarthy out, it is possible that aisles will be crossed to get his replacement.  If so, the speakership will move left toward the Democrats rather than right toward the Freedom Caucus.  If the establishment Republicans disliked Matt Gaetz before, he is downright hated now.

However, it is important to know that the US is in a downward spiral.  The borders are so out of control that the mayor of New York City has railed against immigrants.  The debt has grown by $7 trillion in the last 3 years.  The Congress shows more interest in Ukraine than the United States.  The president is clearly suffering age-related dementia.  So are some of the leaders in the Congress.  Criminals are coddled and victims are charged when they defend themselves.  Insanity reins.  Throwing a wrench into this system might be helpful.  Worst case, it brings the inevitable crash forward, but we are on the path to destruction.

Let the government shutdown for a few months and have the states fend for themselves.  Really, the federal government does more harm than good these days.

Doniphan's Epic March

With the start of the Mexican-American War, President Polk launched an ambitious plan of attack.  He would have three armies press into Mexico, seizing the territory he wanted to annex.  There would be the Army of Occupation (General Zachary Taylor's forces on the Rio Grande), the Army of the Center (General John E. Wool in San Antonio who would march for Chihuahua), and the Army of the West (Colonel Stephen Watts Kearny who would secure New Mexico and California).  Of course, the US Army was tiny, fewer than 10,000 regular troops.  As such, volunteers were needed.  In Missouri, the 1st Missouri Mounted Volunteers were raised and joined Colonel Kearny at Fort Leavenworth.  As a volunteer regiment, the men elected their officers.  Alexander Doniphan, a noted lawyer from Liberty, MO, was chosen as Colonel.  Doniphan's Regiment (856 men) constituted the largest part of Kearny's army and this made him the second in command of the Army of the West!

The march across Kansas began in late June.  By mid-August, the army had captured New Mexico without firing a shot.  Kearny claimed the territory for the US and put Doniphan in charge of establishing a government for the region.  When Kearny left for California in September, Doniphan was left as military governor.  Now responsible for the populace, Doniphan set out to treat with the native tribes, most notably the Navajo.  He secured peace, in theory, before he set off to meet General Wool.  He started toward El Paso in early December.  On Christmas Day, the 1st Missouri had its first battle.  They defeated a larger Mexican force at El Brazito and marched into El Paso soon after.  There was no sign of General Wool.

General Wool had left San Antonio in September and marched to Monclova.  Rather than go to Chihuahua, he was ordered to reinforce General Taylor at Saltillo.  Of course, Doniphan didn't know this.  Doniphan waited in El Paso just long enough for the artillery to arrive then marched toward Chihuahua.  On the last day of February, the 1st Missouri once again met a larger Mexican force.  Moreover, they were entrenched.  By flanking the Mexican positions and using their wagons as mobile armor, the Americans trounced the Mexican forces.  Soon after, they occupied Chihuahua City.

The 1st Missouri were not suited to garrison duty.  Also, the one-year enlistment was drawing to a close.  Doniphan sent an express to General Wool to find out what he should do.  The orders came in late April: march to Saltillo.  On the way, a detachment of Doniphan's forces assisted Mexicans in recovering kidnapped women and children along with cattle from a band of Comanche.  When the 1st Missouri arrived in Saltillo, General Wool saw a ragged bunch of unshaved men, no two of whom wore the same uniform.  He congratulated them on their victories, thanked them for their service, and sent them on their way back to Missouri.  When they met General Taylor outside Monterrey, he offered similar sentiments.  The men liked his informal attire.

Joseph C. Dawson III has written an outstanding book, offering a detailed account of all facets of Doniphan's March, from the raising of the companies from specific counties along the Missouri River to the fate of the more noteworthy survivors (especially as regards the Civil War).  The audacity of Doniphan to march such a small army deep into enemy territory and succeed is something to behold.  It is no wonder he was compared with Xenophon, a Greek general who successfully fought his way out of enemy territory.  Here is a straight history book that is a real page turner!

Highly recommended.

2010: The Year We Make Contact (1984)

Dr. Heywood Floyd authored a report on the Discovery mission to Jupiter in the wake of its failure.  Years later, the US is preparing a new ship to find out what happened.  However, the Russians also have a ship that will go to Jupiter; they will arrive a year earlier.  Despite rising tensions between the US and the USSR in Central America, Dimitri Moisevitch (Dana Elcar) suggests a joint operation.  Three Americans - Floyd, Curnow (John Lithgow), and Chandra (Bob Balaban) - travel to Jupiter with the Russian crew.  By the time they arrive, tensions between the US and the USSR are on the brink of war.  This makes cooperation between the Americans and the Russians difficult.  While flying near Europa, they send a probe and are on the brink of seeing something when the probe is destroyed.  Hmm.  Later, they airbrake in the Jovian atmosphere before rendevousing in orbit around Io with the Discovery.  Doctor Chandra reactivates HAL and investigates what went wrong.  Meanwhile, strange events are happening.  Visions of Dave Bowman (Keir Dullea) abound and the massive monolith destroys another Russian probe.

The movie's big failure is that it takes place in a future that never came.  The USSR was gone less than 10 years after the film was made.  The inclusion of Cold War politics was a mistake and adds very little.  Also, despite being made 15 years after the original, the special effects are less impressive.  Though there are lots of Russian cosmonauts on the Leonov, only two get much development.  There is Tanya Kirbuk (Helen Mirren) as the commander and Max (Elya Baskin).  Baskin and Lithgow have good chemistry during the spacewalk transit between the Leonov and the Discovery.  Baskin proves to be a very likable character, which was doubtless intentional considering his fate.

A sequel that is very different from the original.  Just okay.

Term Limits Desperately Needed

Little did the voters of California realize in 1992 that Dianne Feinstein had been elected Senator for Life.  More than 30 years later, Senator Dianne Feinstein has died.  She was 90.  A couple of months ago, she was participating in an appropriation meeting when one of her aides told her to "just say aye."  Feinstein said, "Aye."  Was the senator the one making the decision or was it the aide?  Or was it some unseen person behind the scenes.  Clearly, Senator Feinstein's mental faculties were not what they had been earlier in her political career.  She should have long since retired.  She is not alone in this.

Senator Mitch McConnell (age 81) has repeatedly frozen midsentence in recent months.  He is more than a decade beyond the traditional retirement age.  Joe Biden (age 80) regularly loses his train of thought, speaks incoherently, and rambles off topic.  The leading candidate for the Republican Party is Donald Trump (age 77) and would finish another term older than Joe Biden is now.  Clearly, term limits are needed.  In the case of the Presidency, we already have that.  However, we may need a maximum age.  Maybe an amendment that you can't run for president after the age of 70.  Heck, that could go for the House and Senate too.

One of the problems with term limits is that they only apply to elective offices.  They should apply to federal service in general.  After all, a bureaucrat who has been working in the system for 30 years is going to walk all over some newbie Senator or Representative.  I have already stated my desire to return to the spoils system, which would allow a full housecleaning every 4 to 8 years, but term limits would be a second best choice.  Say 12 years on the federal payroll and out.  Careerism in government is anathema to limited government.

For example, the Tennessee Valley Authority was created during the Great Depression to bring the Tennessee Valley into the 20th century.  90 years later, it is still operating.  Why?  Because, as Ronald Reagan often said, "a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life."  The bureaucrats have a disincentive to success; success will reduce funding and perhaps eliminate their jobs.

The current system is an obvious failure.  Time to reboot the system.

The Sea Beast (2022)

Somewhere at sea, a young boy clings to flotsam while a burning ship sinks a short distance away.  As he shivers on the makeshift raft, a giant sea beast swims just below the surface.  The boy is Jacob Holland and he is eventually rescued by the Inevitable, the monster-hunting ship of Captain Crow.

At an orphanage, Maisie Brumble reads a book about the various adventures of the Inevitable.  In the distant past, the sea beasts used to come on land, devour people, and destroy towns.  Now, thanks to the monster-hunting ships, vast areas of the seas were free of monsters and none could remember the land attacks.  Maisie's parents were hunters and they died at sea.  Her dream is to follow in their footsteps.  Well, except for the dying part.  Therefore, she runs away from the orphanage.  

The Inevitable is asea and chasing the Red Bluster (Moby Dick), when they spot another ship in dire straits.  Jacob Holland (Karl Urban), now an adult, argues that they must aid their fellow hunters.  Captain Crow (Jared Harris) reluctantly agrees.  Not only do they rescue the other ship, they kill the monster that was on the brink of sinking her.  Though the carcass earns a fine bounty, the monarchs are unimpressed with the recent achievements of the hunter fleet.  They propose disbanding the hunters and sending the Imperator - a leviathan of a ship - to sweep monsters from the seas.  Infuriated by this proposal, Captain Crow is on the brink of drawing sword against the monarchs when Jacob proposes a contest: if the Inevitable takes the Red Bluster, the hunters remain.  If the Imperator, then the hunters disband.

Once at sea again, the crew discovers that Maisie Brumble has stowed away.  Though Jacob wants to deposit her at the next port, Captain Crow is impressed by her pluck.  "She's all vinegar."  Of course, the Inevitable finds the Red Bluster and a death match ensues.  Jacob and Maisie are swallowed by the Bluster and the Inevitable limps to port for repairs.  Like Jonah, Geppetto, and Pinocchio, Jacob and Maisie survive being swallowed.  In fact, they soon befriend the Red Bluster.  This will complicate things when and if they get back to civilization.

The movie is quite entertaining but the premise needed further development.  As there are plans for a sequel, perhaps the backstory will be explained.  As it is, humans made up the murderousness of the monsters so that they could convince people to hunt them.  But if they were generally harmless, why do you need to exterminate them?  It doesn't work as explained.

Good popcorn fun.

Kearny's March

In 1846, both military forces and civilian wagon trains crossed the Missouri River and set out for the West.  Winston Groom, author of Forest Gump, details the various movements and shows how they formed the American West.

Stephen Watts Kearny was the commander on the western frontier, based in Fort Levenworth.  Father of the American Cavalry, he was ordered by President Polk to march his 300 dragoons, a regiment of mounted Missouri Volunteers, and a battalion of Mormons west and capture Santa Fe, New Mexico.  Once secured, he was to continue on to California and claim it for the United States.  Having captured New Mexico without firing a shot, most likely thanks to bribing the territorial governor, Kearny spent a month in the area to make sure all was well before moving on to California.  At this point, he dispatched the mounted Missouri Volunteers - commanded by Colonel Alexander Doniphan - to make his way south for the planned rendezvous with General Wool and his army at Chihuahua.  Kearny would take his dragoons directly to California while Lt. Col. Philip St. George Cooke would build a road to California with the Mormon Battalion.  Kearny had hardly begun when he met Kit Carson, who was returning from California.  The state was already conquered!

Kit Carson had set out for California in 1845 with John C. Fremont the Pathfinder.  Fremont had a force of 60 heavily armed men who had been traipsing through California.  Even though he could not have known the war had begun, he aided local American settlers in the Bear Flag Revolt.  With the help of the US Navy, the state was captured in short order.  Fremont had enlisted the California Brigade of 300 men and worked hand in glove with Commodore Stockton.  Fremont had sent Kit Carson with the news.  When Kearny arrived, Fremont - who was part of the army - chose to follow Stockton's orders rather than those of an army general.  This did not end well for him and led to his court martial.

Meanwhile, Doniphan and his Missourians headed down the Rio Grande and, north of El Paso, had a battle with a Mexican Army.  Despite their unkempt appearance and lax discipline, they soundly trounced their opponents.  Doniphan waited in El Paso for news from General Wool, eventually learning that he had been redirected to Saltillo to fortify General Taylor's position.  Though it was never intended that the volunteer regiment would act alone against Chihuahua, Doniphan boldly struck into the desert to capture the city.  At the end of February 1847, Doniphan attacked a much larger Mexican Army, where his ragamuffin army once again trounced the Mexicans.

The Mormons had had a difficult time in the American Midwest.  Bounced from state to state on account of growing discrimination, the Mormons finally fled west with plans of leaving the United States altogether.  They were camped on the banks of the Missouri River.  As chance would have it, President Polk requested that the Mormons raise a battalion from their ranks and join the war.  Brigham Young saw this as an income stream and a way to get many of the Saints beyond the intolerance of the Midwest.  Soon, 500 Mormons were enlisted at Fort Levenworth and marched to New Mexico.  Too slow to keep pace with Kearny, they also had to take an alternative route to accommodate their wagons.  On the way, the Mormon Battalion fought wild bulls and captured Tucson.

Leaving from Independence, MO, the Donner-Reed Party joined a large wagon train on the Oregon Trail.  However, they had California in mind and left the larger train to take the untried Hastings Cutoff which was said to save 300 miles.  Of course, the route was impractical for wagons.  They tried to race through the pass before the snows arrived but instead got trapped when snows arrived before they were through.  With nowhere near enough food to survive winter in the mountains, starvation and cannibalism followed.  In the spring, after the survivors were rescued, General Kearny went through the pass and saw the carnage.

Where most of the books that cover the Mexican-American War focus on the campaigns of Taylor and Scott, this one is almost exclusively concerned with the western theater of the war, though there is a chapter detailing the Battle of Monterrey, which was part of Taylor's Campaign in Northern Mexico.  Here is an outstanding account of the various westward movements that took place in 1846 and 1847, opening the American West to a flood of immigrants.

Highly recommended.

Abolish the FBI

The three remaining defendants in the Gretchen Whitmer kidnapping plot have all been found not guilty.  The jury did not believe the government case.

In The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996), Geena Davis played a CIA assassin.  In the action-packed finale, she has to prevent a false flag terrorist attack that has been engineered by the CIA.  The director calls it a 'fundraiser.'  What a crazy idea.  The intelligence agency staging an attack so that the government will increase funding.  Who would believe that?  Sadly, looking at the Whitmer Kidnapping Plot, I would believe that.  Chuck Schumer sure thinks the intelligence community will torpedo elected leaders.  He warned President-elect Trump of just that.

Let me tell you: You take on the intelligence community — they have six ways from Sunday at getting back at you.

Charles Schumer

January 2017

The very idea that the intelligence community would even consider 'getting back' at a politician demands that that intelligence agency be abolished.  It is said that J. Edgar Hoover had blackmail on many politicians, thus his longevity as head of the FBI.  Is that happening today?  Clearly.  We now know that Hunter Biden's laptop was real, despite the assurance of 51 former senior intelligence officials to that contrary.  The intelligence community knew it was real.  It wasn't Russian disinformation.  Might this have been the intelligence community getting back at Trump?  Looks likely.